First Peoples; First Farmers Chapter 1 – Most of History in a Single Chapter to 4,000 B.C.E.

Hunting and Gathering Characterized human existence until 12,000 years ago. 95% of human history, life was gathering and hunting. The Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) People: - Settled the planet over 200,000 years ago. - Created the first societies. - First to reflect on issues of life and death.

Hominids and Homo Sapiens Hominid – humanlike creature. australopiticus – 1.8million years ago (Lucy) Homo sapiens emerged in eastern and southern Africa around 250,000 years ago. - Stone and bone tools. - Hunting and fishing, not just scavenging. - Settlements around fish and game. - Trade amongst bands. - Planned burials.

Out of Africa “theory” 100,000 years ago – migrations out of Africa. - Ice age created land bridges. 45,000 years ago – into Middle East and Europe. - New hunting habits (bow and arrow) and tools. 20,000 years ago – Northern Europe peoples go south. - Cave paintings and various abstract designs. Russia and the Ukraine: - Bone needles, multilayered clothing, weaving, nets, baskets, pottery, etc.

Out of Africa “theory” 60,000 years ago – into Australia from Indonesia. - First use of boats. - “Dreamtime” stories of ancestors, ceremonies; religion. Between 30,000 and 15,000 years ago – into the Americas. - Bering Strait land bridge or west North American sea? - Clovis People – first widespread culture of the Americas. - Hunted large mammals (mammoths, bison). - 11,000 years ago – extinction of large mammals. Other Characteristics of Paleolithic People: - Major communication and exchange networks. - Complex views of the world.

Out of Africa “theory”

Out of Africa “theory”

The Ways We Were Small bands of 25–50 people by kinship. Very low population growth and density – lack of technology. Paleolithic bands were seasonally mobile or nomadic. Societies were highly egalitarian (lack of unequal wealth and power). - There were clearly defined roles, but more gender equality. Women were primary food gatherers (70% plants).

Economy and Environment Paleolithic people worked fewer hours – less needs and more leisure time. They only lived, on average, to about 35 years old. Slash-and-burn agriculture was practiced. The extinction of large animals shortly after humans arrived. Also, the extinction of other hominids shortly after humans arrived (Neanderthals).

Neanderthals

The Spiritual Realm Difficult to understand in the Paleolithic culture – no written sources. Rich ceremonial rituals. No full-time religious specialists – part-time shamans. Frequent psychoactive drug use to contact spirits. Mostly polytheistic, but some seem monotheistic.

Cave Painting from France

Venus Figurine

Settling Down Last Ice Age ended 16,000–10,000 years ago. - Warmer climate, more plants; population growth. Larger, more complex societies emerged. - These societies emerge in different areas of the world. Settling down allowed for storage of goods, and placed a greater demand on the environment and agriculture.

Neolithic/Agricultural Revolution It began about 12,000 years ago – the New Stone Age. The deliberate cultivation of particular plants. Domestication of animals: - deliberate taming and breeding of animals. Too many people for hunting and gathering.

Neolithic/Agricultural Revolution

Common Patterns It happened independently in several regions. All transpired 12,000-4,000 years ago. Scholars still debate today as “why” did this occur so late… Women likely began agriculture while men domesticated animals. Population increase created a need for innovation: new technology – sickles, baskets, traps, etc.

Early Farming

The Fertile Crescent First area to have a “full” agricultural revolution. - Several plants and animals domesticated (beginning around 9,400 B.C.E.). - Larger settled population. New Technology: - sun-dried mud bricks, monuments and shrines, more elaborate burials, and more sophisticated tools such as sickles and polished axes.

The Fertile Crescent

Eastern Sahara (Sudan) More hospitable climate (10,000-5,000 years ago). The first domestication of cattle. Africa was the only place to domesticate animals before plants. Less production of agriculture compared to Middle East: - yams, oil palm trees, okra, and the kola nut in West Africa.

The Americas The absence of animals available for domestication. - Only animal domesticated - llama/alpaca. - Lack of protein, manure; power of large animals. A greater reliance on hunting and fishing. Agricultural revolution in Mesoamerica took 3,500 years. Cultural diffusion was more difficult in the Americas due to distinct climate and vegetation zones. It was North/South as opposed to East/West travel.

The Globalization of Agriculture Diffusion and migration: - Spread of agricultural techniques. - Slow colonization as growing populations. This took place between 6,500-4,000 B.C.E. Some resisted agriculture for environmental reasons. Settled agricultural communities were often incompatible with gathering and hunting groups, leading to violent displacement.

The Culture of Agriculture Increased Populations: - 10,000 years ago: around 6 million. - 5,000 years ago: around 50 million. - Year 1 C.E.: around 250 million. - 2017: estimated 7.5 billion. Did not improve the quality of life for most people. - Harder work and longer hours. - Epidemics: living close to animals. - Famine: dependence on fewer crops and animals.

The Culture of Agriculture Technology: pots, textiles, cotton, wool, and metallurgy for weapons and jewelry. Secondary Products Revolution around 4,000 B.C.E. - Milk animals. - Ride various animals. - Creation of alcohol: wine and beer. - Drunken debauchery and carousing among the aristocracy.

Pastoral Societies Agriculture was difficult; more reliance on animals. Pastoral Nomads: - Central Asia, Saharan Africa; Arabian Peninsula. Horses domesticated in Central Asia by 4,000 B.C.E. Camels allowed pastoralism in remote areas of Asia and Africa. No pastoral societies emerged in the Americas. Complex relationship between nomadic herders and agrarian societies.

Pastoral Nomads

Agricultural Village Societies Çatalhüyük, southern Turkey: - Dead buried under houses with items. - No streets; people moved on roof tops. - Few signs of inequality: men hunted and women worked in agriculture and textiles. Usually organized by kinship groups; no formal government apparatus. Sometimes modest social inequality.

Chiefdoms Inherit positions of power and privilege. They seldom used force to maintain rule. Tribute was collected and redistributed to the people. Chiefs had religious and secular power: - led rituals, organized for war, economic controls, and solved internal disputes.

Reflections “Progress?”: Some might point to these various changes as a sign of life getting better. Paleolithic values: Other might find aspects of early human life as a model or lesson for contemporary society. Objectivity: Condemning or romanticizing a historical era violates the historian’s need to be objective.